Jumpstarting 2015 with a healthier diet.
Jumpstart 2015 is a healthy eating and drinking challenge a group of us UK food bloggers are participating in for the month of January, and perhaps for a little longer too. In this challenge we are aiming to increase our daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by eating and drinking more juices, soups and smoothies, and to chart our progress throughout.
Back in mid-December I began the extreme home exercise program P90X, and today is Day 43 – I’ve officially reached the halfway point in the 90 day challenge. The benefits I am experiencing are noticeable (someone even commented yesterday that I’ve lost weight!), and I feel much stronger and full of more energy than I was before I started.
It’s slow going though, I feel. I’m one of those stand-on-the-scale-every-morning people and unless that number decreases every day (while trying to slim) I can feel set back. My diet includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, lean protein and a modest amount of starchy carbohydrates – with a calorie intake between 1250-1500 per day. Days can go by at a time where I won’t lose a single gram, and then I’ll suddenly drop a pound. It really makes no sense, but the number is decreasing as are my body measurements. I shall persevere!
JUMPSTART 2015: THE RULES
- Enjoy a freshly made smoothie or juice (made of mostly vegetables) for breakfast and lunch
- Drink more water (I’m terribly guilty of not drinking enough water, unless coffee counts?)
- No alcohol (optional, but I think the majority of my weight gain last year came from wine calories so it’s teetotal 2015 for me!)
- Eat more soups – chunky or smooth as long as they are loaded with vegetables!
- Normal meal in the evening (In my case, on days where I manage to complete a P90X exercise workout this meal will be rich in protein with a generous serving of vegetables and small serving of carbohydrates)
So, over the last week of #Jumpstart15 here are some of the lovely recipes I’ve enjoyed!!
Total weight loss this week: 2.5 lbs
Weight loss in total since I started the P90X 43 days ago: 11.9 lbs
This week, I am delighted to announce that I have finally made it back into the healthy BMI range!
No juicer? Not a problem! You can make your own green juice with just a blender and a nut milk bag or piece of fine cheesecloth, according to Jessica Nadel, author of Greens 24/7, a newly published cookery book all about getting more greens into your diet. Find the recipe for the juicer free green juice and for a giveaway to win one of three copies of her fab new book >> here <<.
OTHER BLOGGERS TAKING PART IN JUMPSTART 2015
- Tinned Tomatoes
- Fuss Free Flavours
- Ren Behan
- Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
- Smarter Fitter
- An Easy 3-Day Juice Feast to Jumpstart 2015
- Utterly Scrummy Food for Families
- Veggie Desserts
- Franglais Kitchen
- London Unattached (focusing on soups)
YOU! – If you would like to join in too, tweet me @TangoRaindrop your photos and recipe tips using the hashtag #Jumpstart15 and I will retweet all that I see. I’d love to try out your tried and tested recipes, and, if you like, I could even feature them on my blog (duly credited, of course!).
Bookmark or use Bloglovin to track what my Jumpstart 2015 blogging friends are up to – their recipes, tips and progress!
Follow Jacqueline Meldrum’s board Jumpstart 2015 on Pinterest.
Linking up with Weight Loss Wednesday (Week 3) by Sim’s Life and The Musing Housewife.
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Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary uses the Froothie Optimum 9400 blender, and the Froothie Optimum 600 slow juicer to make her juices, soups and smoothies. These are affiliate links, meaning if you buy a blender or juicer through them we will earn a small commission. This is not a paid post and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Paul Wilson says
Love juices and smoothies.
Beth - The Musing Housewife says
Fantastic news getting back into the healthy BMI range! I have a long way to go until then although those juices look AMAZING!
I’m just whizzing around catching up on #WeightLossWednesday, thank you for joining up!
Tracy Ashwin says
I’m loving my green smoothies. I feel so much better for drinking them. Thanks for the recipes will have to try.
Emily @amummytoo says
BEAUTIFUL recipes – that top one looks so refreshing – and a great achievement on the BMI too. Well done!
Jen @ Blue Kitchen Bakes says
So many great looking inspiring healthy recipes here. I’m looking for a new blender at the moment, possibly a juicer too and I’m looking forward to trying some of your recipes once I find the gadgets that will work in my kitchen.
Food Glorious Foodx says
Love the selection of healthy recipes here. I’ll have to participate in 2016
Carly says
This sounds like a great program! I’m getting a Nutribullet for my birthday next week so will look bookmark so i can use some of your recipes! #weightlosswednesday (bit late sorry!!)
lisa prince says
oh wow those look amazing especially the strawberry sunrise
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
Oooh these shakes look delicious. I really must invest in a juicer x #weightlosswednesday
Sarah @tamingtwins says
I’m loving reading your JumpStart inspiration Elizabeth. So well done and what a fab start to the year. I’m an every day on the scales person. After I had my children and dieted, I made a point of only weighing myself once a week at the chemist. Yes it cost 20p or something but somehow it made me think only those numbers were correct and avoided the on and off the scales every day at home!
Kath S {isitwineoclockyet} says
Well done on your weight loss, I might have a go at making your soup. Will let you know how that goes!! lol
#weightlosswednesday
Helen says
Just wanted to say your pics of Shetland are beauuuuutiful! I used to go on holiday to the very North West of Scotland every year when I was a kid – haven’t been back – but those snaps have inspired me! I’ve linked up with you (or tried to!) with the no waste food challenge – great idea! Helen x
Sarah Maison Cupcake says
I need to get into green juice, I tend to chicken out and put cocoa powder in them (as well as frozen banana).
Elizabeth says
I don’t blame you for wanting to put cocoa powder and a sweet fruit in them – that green one I made was… potent!!
Elizabeth recently posted…Green Juice without a Juicer – Greens 24/7 by Jessica Nadel {Review & Giveaway}
Cheryl @ Madhouse Family Reviews says
Love the sound of the soup and I so recognise myself in yourweighing-every-day description ! You’re getting there, even if it’s not as quick as you’d like 🙂 Thanks for linking up on the Sunday weigh-in xx
Elizabeth says
I was really pleased how nice it turned out for effectively being a raw soup. I must experiment more!
Elizabeth recently posted…15 Recipes to Reduce Food Waste
sharon martin says
I love the sound of Super Greens smoothie, just up my street, i’ve pinned it to use later. Thanks for sharing the other recipes too. Well done on your success so far!!
Elizabeth says
Thanks! Be warned it is not for the faint-hearted! It is quite a green juice!!!
Elizabeth recently posted…Buckwheat Blini Pancakes {Gluten Free}
Kristina says
wow these look all so yummy and healthy! Will definitely take some notes and try them out 🙂
Elizabeth says
Thanks 🙂 It’s a great way to get the vitamins and minerals of fresh fruit and veg into the body!
Elizabeth recently posted…#Jumpstart15 – Juices, Soups & Smoothies {Week 1}
Sim @ SimsLife.co.uk says
The Five Minute soup looks rather yummy and healthy. I have all the ingredients to make a beef stew and will then be blending to reduce into a soup afterwards. Totally need it with this weather, it is awful!
Well done on your weight loss so far! P90X does work, awesome that you are sticking to it! I want to lose a bit more weight before I kick off Insanity again… I want to be able to do it without getting bored and giving up.
Thank you so much for linking up to #WeightLossWednesday 🙂
Sim xx
Elizabeth says
Mmmm beef stew! 🙂 Thanks for your kind words – I’ll might give Insanity a go once I finish p90x
Elizabeth recently posted…Skinny Creamy Celeriac & Apple Soup